2021 Osprey Project

Markus Nilles carefully holding a young osprey (Pandion haliaetus) with orange eyes during a bird ringing session.

In 2021, my main focus was on ospreys. In my osprey project, I observed and documented a wild young osprey pair during their first breeding season from March to September 2021.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) flying just above mirror-smooth green water, with a spray trail and reflection.

Young osprey making its first hunting attempts
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Location: Bavaria

Osprey flying head-on through rain with dark eye mask clearly visible.

Female osprey searching for food in the rain
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Berlebach UNI 22C Location: Bavaria

Osprey flying with a fish gripped in its talons against a dark forest background.

Male osprey after a successful hunt
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Berlebach UNI 22C Location: Bavaria

Close-up of a young Osprey with a bright orange eye and dark eye stripe.

Osprey nestling
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 70 – 200mm F4 Location: Bavaria

Ringed osprey flying with a fish in its talons against a golden reed background.

Male osprey with prey
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Rollei Rock Solid Alpha XL Mark II Location: Bavaria

Osprey bursting up out of the water with wet plumage, surrounded by spray.

Osprey after the plunge dive
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Location: Bavaria

Two young ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) on the forest floor during ringing, one chick with a new ID ring on its leg.

Young ospreys — image taken during ringing
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 70 – 200mm F4 Location: Bavaria

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) hovering with raised wings against a pale blue sky, looking down at the water.

Osprey hovering
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Berlebach UNI 22C Location: Bavaria

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) diving towards dark water with talons outstretched, its golden reflection below.

After hovering, the osprey begins the dive onto its prey
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Berlebach UNI 22C Location: Bavaria

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) rising from the water with raised wings, surrounded by backlit spray.

Osprey pulling its prey out of the water with all its strength
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Rollei Rock Solid Alpha XL Mark II Location: Bavaria

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) flying low over a pond in the rain, carrying a small fish in its talons.

Female osprey after a successful hunt
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Berlebach UNI 22C Location: Bavaria

Silhouette of a hovering osprey (Pandion haliaetus) against a dark rainy sky above treetops.

Osprey hovering at dawn
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Berlebach UNI 22C Location: Bavaria

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) flying in the rain against a dark conifer forest.

Osprey & Sparrowhawk — these two are not friends
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Berlebach UNI 22C Location: Bavaria

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) flying past golden reeds, water drops falling from its plumage.

Male osprey after a hunting attempt during the golden hour
Camera: Sony a7RIV Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Rollei Rock Solid Alpha XL Mark II Location: Bavaria